Run a Good Campaign, Run the Country Well

L: David Axelrod, Obama's campaign manager, and R: Obama. Photo credit Jamie Rose, NYT.

Here's a metric to measure potential presidential performance that has nothing to do with race or gender, and everything to do with vision, surrounding yourself with the best people for the job, and smart delegation of executive power: RUN A GOOD CAMPAIGN. Run a bad campaign, as Clinton has, and it reflects poorly on the candidate.

I've long argued in favor of Obama's mad ninja skillz with regard to running his campaign. The high-tech savvy in his use of social media to organize and engage voters (and from his "Blueprint for Change," the importance of public web access to lobbyist's contributions and legislative decisions, for example). Effective, efficient fundraising online. His quick removal of aides or advisors who go off message with a negative attack ("Clinton's a monster"). The impressive and meticulous ground game on both primary night and in the following caucuses that takes no delegate for granted, whether that's Iowa (he gained 9 delegates there) or Texas (he gained 7 of 9 outstanding delegates there). The grassroots talk is backed up by actual grassroots walk, as this undercover reporter who joined the Obama campaign in Philadelphia found out.

If he makes a mistake, he addresses it quickly and thoroughly. For example, sitting down to be grilled by the Chicago Tribune for 90 minutes to address his connection to a controversial Chicago developer, Rezko. Giving a historic speech that provides context for some of Reverend Wright's more incendiary preachings, Obama's stance on those ideas, and that by any measure is an exquisite and thoughtful piece of oratory on racism in America that'll be studied by schoolkids like they study the Gettysburg address. Indulging in some godawful cheeseball-sexist groveling for votes with female voters in Pennsylvania ("do I have to get down on bended knee? How about a kiss?") that I AM CERTAIN got some dressing down by Michelle Obama and other campaign advisors--haven't seen him do it since, so I assume he's given the "Mr. Mack Daddy" persona a rest. Likewise, if the "Clinton feels down" wording edges on sexism (feeling down in the polls, or feeling emotionally down?), he backs off it instead of repeating it ad infinitum.

In short, he's done a pretty good job of staying off the negative campaigning and staying on message about what he intends to do if he's president and how he expects the American people to be his partners in democracy. If attacked, he's pushed back, but I haven't seen him take ample opportunities offered to dig into the worst of Clinton's baggage.

He's a pretty fair fighter. Clinton's stance on NAFTA during her husband's presidential term versus now--that's about her record. Clinton's Iraq war vote as a measure of her judgment --again, it's her record. She needs to stand up for it or apologize for it as she sees fit. Whether or not mandating universal coverage of health insurance helps those who need coverage the most, or inadvertently penalizes them with fines they can't afford--a substantive policy difference between the two. 

Furthermore, Obama hasn't waited until inauguration day to put his style of "new politics" in play. Unlike any candidate prior, Obama has made the implicit argument that the means are at least as important as the ends. By expanding on Howard Dean's 50-state strategy and internet-savvy method of fundraising small amounts from individuals, he's affirmed the principle of broad-based, democracy-in-practice that gives "one person, one vote" such power. This has effectively neutralized some of the disproportionate power lobbyists and big corporate interests have via their contributions to candidates.

By winning over more than 1.5 million individuals who have given money and also much time and effort to his campaign, he has the moral and political wherewithal to eschew poll-driven decisions and the perspective to take poll results with a grain of salt. He's also weaned himself from PAC and donations from federal lobbyists.

Obama volunteers and pledged delegates are engaged and excited about democracy, because they have tangible evidence of grassroots organizing at work. And that's both a gift to supporters, who will hopefully continue this engagement beyond the 2008 election into the foreseeable future, and a crucial part of building a Get Out The Vote machine for himself as nominee. Did I mention coattails, people? Will it be any good to have a Democratic President in the White House if we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and lose the Democratic majority in the House and Senate?

All of these choices and consequent actions that follow through bespeak a vision that is open to any candidate--male or female, black or white--with the courage, inventiveness, and yes, audacity to implement them. Obama hasn't allowed racism to crimp his vision, or sexist attacks on Clinton to fuel his campaign.

Some might scoff and say, the examples you give are insignificant and mere details, i.e., they're easy to do. Well, if those examples are so minor, insignificant, and easy to achieve, wouldn't every campaign have incorporated them by now?

In the Obama campaign, bills get paid, people are motivated, morale is high, people are working together toward a common goal. In my wildest dreams, America would function in the same way.

Obama has shown me he can run an excellent campaign. From that, it's reasonable for me to take his platform, his voting record in his eight years in the Illinois State Senate and current term in the U.S. Senate, the legislation he's written and passed in both places, and say, All things considered, this person has what it takes to be a good president. To the White House!

Once he's in the Oval Office, we hold his feet to the fire and make sure we get the progressive agenda we need. We keep reminding him that he works for us.

Cynematic's personal blog is P i l l o w b o o k.

Comments

[Amy in Ohio]

Copy this to his campaign. After watching the depressing political shows this weekend, even I was down in the dumps. The "flat" we experienced during the debate had me worried we'd run out of steam. This post has be polishing my O button. Thanks!

[cynematic]

Amy in Ohio,
Glad the post gave you a lift!

Eyes on the prize, everybody. The prize isn't Obama so much as it's getting back the country we know and love back on track. Getting him elected is the first step toward that.

[Amy in Ohio]

Thanks cynematic - I'm almost giddy to see the turnout in Pennsylvania.